Planting zone for 96116 — Likely, CA
ZIP code 96116 (Likely, Modoc County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is June 14 and the first fall frost September 18.
Where ZIP 96116 is
Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoomNot the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6b means →
Frost forecast — next 7 nights
live from the National Weather ServiceLoading the forecast for Likely, CA…
Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.
Frost dates in Likely, CA
A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 30 and returns around October 1.
From the NOAA station Jess Valley, CA — 8 miles away, elevation 5,401 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.
When to plant vegetables in 96116
Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 14) and first fall frost (Sep 18) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.
When spring arrived in 2026
In 2026, spring leaf-out near 96116 came on Mar 1 — 27 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28).
Mar 282026
Mar 1
The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).
Soil in Likely, CA
The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96116 is Karcal — very cobbly clay, well drained.
Map unit: Karcal-Ninekar complex,0 to 9 percent slopes.
Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 96116; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in Likely, CA
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Jess Valley, CA (8 mi away); precipitation: Jess Valley, CA (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
3 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.
Questions about 96116
What planting zone is ZIP code 96116?
ZIP code 96116 (Likely, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).
When is the last frost in Likely, CA?
The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 96116 is June 14; after July 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jess Valley station.
When is the first frost in Likely, CA?
The median first fall frost near 96116 is September 18, giving a median frost-free growing season of 94 days.
When should I plant tomatoes in 96116?
Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 19 – May 3 and set transplants outside around Jun 21 – Jul 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.
How much rain and snow does 96116 get?
About 18.9 inches of precipitation a year and 82 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jess Valley station).
How hot do summers get in Likely, CA?
The average high peaks at 84 °F in July, with about 15 days a year at 90 °F or more.
What kind of soil does 96116 have?
The USDA soil survey maps Karcal at the center of ZIP 96116: very cobbly clay, well drained, pH about 7.6 (slightly alkaline).
Did spring come early in Likely, CA in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 96116 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 27 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in Likely, CA?
Long-day onions: the longest day near 96116 is 15 h 09 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).